The Only 7 Signs Of AI Writing You Need To Remove From Your Text

This post has been written by guest writer and strategist James Presbitero, publisher of the newsletter, “Write 10x” for my newsletter, "All About Content...And AI".

AI-generated content is fast. But it often feels robotic. Lifeless.

Readers can tell. Editors can tell. Even AI detectors, faulty as they can be, can tell.

It’s because AI lacks that human spark.

The emotions, the experiences - that nameless way that they bleed into our words. They’ll all be missing in the lazy, completely AI text.

But there’s a bigger problem: Even if writers are not using AI, they’re being caught in the crossfire.

Some writers are being accused of using gen-AI even when they aren’t! This has led to their content getting rejected from publications. This sucks, to say the least. And not just that, it can affect their income and reputations as well.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

If you use AI, you don’t have to ditch it. You just have to fix what makes it obvious.

If you’re not using AI, doing this will ensure you’re never accused again.

There are 7 telltale signs of AI writing. Master them, and no one will ever question whether you wrote something yourself.

First, let’s talk about why AI writing feels "off"

AI lacks lived experience. It doesn’t feel. It doesn’t remember. It doesn’t dream.

That means AI-generated writing often feels shallow. It follows patterns and mirrors predictable structures. It plays it too safe.

What it creates is writing that’s technically correct but emotionally flat.

If you don’t edit and humanize AI-generated text, it will always sound bland and formulaic.

Sometimes, writers naturally sound like this as well. This is unavoidable -- maybe they don’t have experience yet, or their writing background has been more academic.

Don’t worry, it’s very fixable. Your humanity is just not shining through.

But fixing these 7 things will help.

The 7 Signs of AI Writing (and How to Fix Them)

1. Overuse of generic, safe language

AI avoids risks. It won’t take a strong stance. It won’t say anything truly bold.

It sticks to neutral, broad statements that sound safe but lack personality.

The fix: Take a stance.

Share an opinion or add nuance.

For example, instead of: "This tool can be useful for many people."

Say: "If you’re a freelancer and you’re not using this tool, I truly believe you’re leaving money on the table."

2. Repetitive sentence structures

AI loves patterns. Too much.

If every sentence has the same rhythm, the writing drags. No variation, life.

So, simply vary sentence length. Mix short, punchy lines with longer, flowing thoughts. Write like how you talk, or better yet -- how you think.

Instead of: "AI can be helpful. It generates ideas quickly. It improves efficiency."

Say: "AI is fast. Really fast. But speed alone isn’t enough. Creativity matters -- a lot."

3. Unnecessary wordiness & filler phrases

AI often pads the word count. It repeats ideas in slightly different ways.

If a sentence feels like it’s circling the same point, it probably is.

So, often times you have to be direct.

Instead of: "One of the most important things to consider when improving writing is clarity."

Say: "Clarity matters most."

4. Lack of personal experience or storytelling

AI doesn’t live. It can’t draw from real emotions or experiences.

So AI-generated text lacks authenticity.

It won’t share personal anecdotes. No real-world details.

To humanize your content, you can simply add personal stories, vivid examples, and sensory details.

Instead of: "Good communication skills are important."

Say: "I once lost a $10,000 deal because I misread an email’s tone. That’s when I learned: Communication is everything when you’re managing clients."

5. Clichéd and overused phrases

AI loves common phrases. It pulls from what’s already been said. Over and over.

• "Think outside the box."
• "At the end of the day."
• "Now more than ever."

Instead of that, use fresh metaphors. Make up unique expressions even, or name something that is industry-specific.

Instead of: "Success doesn’t happen overnight."

Say: "Success is like compound interest—it builds slowly but pays off big."

I mean, if you’re clearly someone who likes compound interest. If not, you can liken success to other things, like plants, clams, or cats. Whatever you want.

6. Unnatural Transitions

AI struggles with flow. It forces transitions in awkward ways.

It relies too much on question-response patterns:

"The answer? Yes."

"Guess what? It works."

The fix: Use natural connectors and conversational transitions.

Instead of: "So, what’s the solution? Let’s discuss it."

Say: "Here’s what actually works."

7. Emotionally flat tone

AI can mimic tone, but it lacks true feeling. No passion, sarcasm. No humor.

Fix: Infuse personality. Write how you speak. Add humor, bold statements, and storytelling.

Instead of: "This book provides useful insights."

Say: "This book hit me like a slap in the face. Brutal truths. Zero fluff. Exactly what I needed."

Never Be Accused of Using AI Again

AI can assist -- but it should never replace you.

It can’t replicate your creativity, emotions, or voice.

The best AI-assisted writing doesn’t sound AI-generated. It feels natural, human.

Even if you don’t use AI, these 7 signs of weak writing can still hurt you. So, now you know how to fix them.

Master these fixes, and your writing won’t just be undetectable.

It’ll be unmistakably yours.